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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Revealed June 2008
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-410
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF3
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF6
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

The following is a extensive overview of the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is very close and they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (Four Thirds).

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The E-420 was introduced 4 years before the GF5 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic GF5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick summary of how the E-420 grades vs the GF5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic GF5

 E-420 GF5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Olympus E-420

 GF5 E-420 
AnnouncedApril 2012June 2008Newer by 46 months
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic GF5

 E-420 GF5 
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-420 comes with exterior dimensions of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF5 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 and the GF5.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and GF5 is 77 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor dimensions simply by viewing specs. The image underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-420 and GF5.

As you can plainly see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic GF5 to result in more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
57
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
56
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography factors
Panasonic GF5 Street photography factors
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competition (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Sports photography camera
39
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
slow frames per second (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
41
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus E-420
Travel photography with Panasonic GF5
53
lighter than competition (426g)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (500 per charge)
low megapixels (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
61
offers touch focus
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus E-420
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
47
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
terrible battery (500 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
59
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging info
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging info
9
lack of video recording
32
screen is touchscreen
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic GF5
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2008-06-23 2012-04-05
Body design Compact SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic III Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 45 107
Focal length multiplier 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/180s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 426 gr (0.94 lb) 267 gr (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 50
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 20.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 10.0
DXO Low light rating 527 573
Other
Battery life 500 shots 360 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $999 $600